Clippers and Raptors complete Kawhi Leonard trade after NBA investigation concludes

By Ama Serwah — 14 September 2026 — 4 min read

Clippers finalise trade for Leonard

The LA Clippers and the Toronto Raptors have officially completed a significant trade that sends Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto and Brandon Ingram to LA. This transaction finalises an agreement initially reached in late June, following a delay while the NBA investigated allegations of salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers.

The trade package for the Clippers includes shooting guard Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033. The NBA concluded its investigation on September 2, imposing penalties on both Leonard and the Clippers.

Leonard was required to pay the league $700,000 for his violations of circumvention rules, which were reportedly conducted through his uncle, Dennis Robertson. Robertson has been banned for five years from conducting business with NBA teams on behalf of any player or personnel.

The Clippers faced substantial penalties, including a $30 million fine and the forfeiture of five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033. Additionally, chairman Steve Ballmer and business president Gillian Zucker received one-year suspensions, while basketball president Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, covering periods including training camp cuts and the February 2027 trade deadline. These suspensions contributed to the delay in finalising the trade as the Clippers reorganised their front office.

Impact on Clippers’ roster and future

With Leonard’s departure, the Clippers’ roster will now be led by Ingram, two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland, and rookie Keaton Wagler. The team’s projected starting lineup includes Garland at point guard, Max Strus at shooting guard, Ingram at small forward, Rui Hachimura at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. Garland and Ingram are considered definite starters, with Lopez likely to start given his experience.

Other players like Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. are candidates for starting roles due to their defensive capabilities, and Bradley Beal is also a potential starter. The combination of Strus and Hachimura is expected to provide size and shooting, and as higher-paid players acquired by the Clippers, they are anticipated to start.

The bench rotation will feature guards such as Dunn, Wagler, Kobe Sanders, and Beal. Jones Jr. is also expected to play significant minutes. The frontcourt depth is noted as an area needing attention, with Isaiah Jackson being the primary dependable big man while Yanic Konan Niederhauser recovers from Lisfranc surgery.

The Clippers currently have 17 players under contract and will need to reduce their roster by two to meet league guidelines. Cam Christie and Dick are considered potential departure candidates due to the team’s depth in the backcourt. Head coach Tyronn Lue will lead the team, with general manager Trent Redden and senior vice president Mark Hughes overseeing the front office, working with the first-round picks acquired from Toronto.

Leonard’s return to Toronto

Leonard is expected to sign an extension with Toronto. This season marks the final year of his three-year, $149 million contract signed in January 2024. The trade reunites Leonard with the franchise he helped win a championship in 2019, an achievement that earned him one of his two NBA Finals MVP awards. As part of the trade, Leonard waived his 15% trade kicker.

The 2025-26 season was a strong offensive year for Leonard, where he earned his seventh All-Star selection and seventh All-NBA honor, making the All-NBA Second Team. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points, shooting 50.5 percent from the field, and made a career-best 2.6 3-pointers per game. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year also averaged 1.9 steals, his highest in eight seasons.

Ingram, who was traded to the Raptors in February 2025, is coming off his second All-Star appearance, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for a Raptors team that lost in the first round of the playoffs. Dick, drafted 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, has played in 190 games but saw his playing time and points per game decrease last season.

The Raptors had a relatively quiet offseason, adding power forward Kyle Anderson and drafting Allen Graves. With Leonard’s return, the Raptors aim to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers are scheduled to face the Raptors twice this upcoming season, with Leonard set to return to Intuit Dome on November 2.